AJAX coach Marco van Basten was not happy with his side's performance in the UEFA Cup clash at home to Zilina on Thursday night despite winning the match 1-0.
Luis Suarez scored the only goal of the game shortly before half-time to secure the first points in Group F for the Dutch side, who were shorn of eight senior players.
"The first half was not good," said Van Basten. "We had no answer to Zilina. The pace was too slow and we made no use of the width. It was wrong.
"That's why we changed things at half-time. We were better and created good chances but we forgot how to kill off a game.
"We have wasted the chance to improve our goal difference which is a pity because it can be important at the end of the group stage."
Captain Klaas Jan Huntelaar said Zilina made life difficult for them, but reckons his side deserved the three points.
"The three points are most important and it is justified we got them when you look at the whole match," he said.
"They were a reasonable opponent and gave away little space. If we'd been sharper we would have scored more goals, considering our chances."
"The first half was not good," said Van Basten. "We had no answer to Zilina. The pace was too slow and we made no use of the width. It was wrong.
"That's why we changed things at half-time. We were better and created good chances but we forgot how to kill off a game.
"We have wasted the chance to improve our goal difference which is a pity because it can be important at the end of the group stage."
Captain Klaas Jan Huntelaar said Zilina made life difficult for them, but reckons his side deserved the three points.
"The three points are most important and it is justified we got them when you look at the whole match," he said.
"They were a reasonable opponent and gave away little space. If we'd been sharper we would have scored more goals, considering our chances."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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